Sunderland’s twin beach resorts of Roker and Seaburn will be transformed by millions of lights for Sunderland Illuminations. Giant light art will twinkle right along the coast while the Victorian Roker Park will be completely taken over by all manner of light sculptures.

Such imaginative use of lights is wholly appropriate for the city where light bulb inventor Joseph Swan was born. Just as Swan developed his bulb making it better and brighter each time, Sunderland Illuminations will be bigger and brighter than ever before for 2016.

Highlights will include new and exciting light works featuring dinosaurs, pirates and fairies. Plus, there’ll be the return of some old favourites such as the Sea of Stars and the Sunderland Tap, a constantly flowing tap of light, seemingly suspended in mid-air. There’ll also be chance to see Sunderland’s stunning coastline from a different perspective aboard an illuminated observation wheel.

Sunderland Illuminations begins with an action packed opening evening on 24 September and runs until 5 November.